Ratings System

Course Ratings System

Here is a summary of the system we use to determine the ratings for our course reviews. Like most ratings, we will rate the course in multiple categories (pace of play, difficulty, price, etc). Ratings will be given in terms of "golf balls": or and range from 0 through 5. Below is each category and a description of it.

 

CATEGORY #1 (High number of golf balls is good)

Course Layout: Positioning of  holes relative to each other, pin locations, strategically designed holes, use of natural features (lakes, forests, etc. 0=poor design, random layout. 5=excellent layout, easy to go from hole to hole.
Staff: Helpfulness and friendliness of staff/cart personal/marshals etc. 0=rude and unhelpful. 5=friendly and helpful.
Value: What you paid relative to what you got out of the course. 0=over-priced and not worth it. 5=this is a steal!
Pace of Play: How long does it take to play a round of 18? How much of a factor is slow play? 0=6+ hours for a round of 18. 5=under 4 hours for a round of 18.
Course Conditions: What condition is the course in? How well is the course maintained? 0=horrible, nothing maintained (does anyone work here?) 5=stellar conditions, perfectly trimmed grass all over the course.

CATEGORY #2 (Low number of golf balls is good)

Price: How much does it cost per round of golf? Do they offer decent specials? 5=overpriced green fees with bad specials. Not worth it! 0=Very low green fees with excellent specials.
Difficulty: Is this a tough course (for a ~15 handicapper) in terms of greens, hole design, hazards, etc? 5=very tough, not meant for high handicappers. 0=very easy, even for high handicappers.

I also plan on reviewing courses multiple times in order to not be biased. Many factors such as the weather can influence a review, so multiple reviews will hopefully eliminate these factors. Also, these reviews are my personal opinion on what it being reviewed.

It is important to state as well that these course reviews are with respect to the average golfer (i.e. the best and most expensive course may not necessarily be the "best").

Product Rating System

In addition to courses, I'll also be reviewing golf products, like clubs, balls, tees, etc. Since these items are obviously different from golf courses, they will be reviewed in different categories, as explained below: (A high number of golf balls ( or ) is good, whereas a low number of golf balls is bad).

CATEGORIES:

Value: Is this product worth the price advertised/paid? (0=over-priced and not worth it. 5=This is a steal)
Build/Quality: What/how is the product made? (0=cheap materials, minimal effort. 5=quality material and build)
Effectiveness: Is there a noticeable change in your golf game whilst using this product? (0=no difference. 5=big difference)
Features: What makes this product unique from others? (0=nothing new or distinct. 5=unseen features before)

 

Stay tuned for upcoming reviews,

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews